Legal Obligation To Provide Support 

The parents’ legal obligation is codified in IMDMA §505, which governs the spectrum of child support, including how to get, how to set, how to change, and how to enforce child support.

Among its many provisions, IMDMA §505 details percentage guidelines used to determine the minimum amount of support that either or both parents can be ordered to pay.  It also defines the relative factors that the court must consider if it, or the parties by agreement, wish to deviate from the standard guidelines.

IMDMA §505 must be used as the starting point in making a claim for or determining child support.  However there are many other provisions that should be considered: IMDMA §501 (temporary relief), §502 (agreement), §503 (disposition of property), §510 (modification and termination of provisions for maintenance, support, property disposition, and educational expenses), §513 (support for non-minor children and educational expenses), and §601 (jurisdiction in child custody proceedings), as well as §14 of the Parentage Act.

See Also:

Child Support Guidelines

What if the Guidelines for child support are not adequate or appropriate?

Legal Obligation To Provide Support 

Understanding Child Support 

How is Support Calculated